Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is ‘excited’ for his first ever Champions League knock-out tie as a manager, as Arsenal face Porto in the Estadio do Dragao on Wednesday night.
It is Arsenal’s first Champions League Round of 16 tie in seven years, so the anticipation and hope from fans to prove they belong amongst Europe’s elite is high.
They come into the first leg in Portugal in scintillating form, winning five Premier League game’s in a row by a score of 21-2. Arteta expressed his excitement and belief in his players to rise to the occasion.
“We have earned the right to be here. We haven’t been here for seven years and haven’t got to the next stage for 14,” he said.
“That’s the challenge. We are excited to go for it with full belief.
“All the teams are very top. The ball is rolling and the teams are very prepared and dangerous.”
Arsenal often found it problematic progressing past the Round of 16 in the later years of Arsene Wenger’s tenure, with Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Monaco notable sides to defeat the Gunners.
Under Arteta, this team have overcome previous ‘mental blocks’ with impressive wins over title rivals Manchester City, Liverpool and away to Tottenham Hotspur last season.
Embed from Getty ImagesNow they need to take domestic form into European competition, a challenge Arteta acknowledges was tough for the Arsenal sides he played in.
“Someone called Messi was another obstacle as well and Bayern Munich. This competition is what it is. It comes down to details and you need your players at your best,” Arteta said.
“They know that we haven’t been in the competition for seven years. They know the story. It’s the challenge that they have to go through and to deserve to go through.”
